Happy Tails

NELSON

Okay so like any proud mom I could go on forever about Nelson. He is our little pride and joy (Baxter too of course!). Just a little info for you on Nelson as I know it is nice to have updates. Nelson has quite the personality, he is very loving, energetic, happy happy happy, he is a scaredy cat, very protective, a real mama’s boy, he thinks he is a 5 pound lap dog (not a 22 pound medium sized dog). Nelson wakes up happy and ready to play every day. He starts his day with kisses for everyone! Especially for his big brother. They spoon when they sleep and wake up hugging and kissing, this will go on for at least 10-15 minutes every morning. After that it is play play play! If Nelson is not with Baxter playing he is glued to his mom’s hip. He is very vocal (probably gets that from Baxter!), very inquisitive and crazy smart. He has a few interesting quirks like the amount he drools! If he is watching someone eat, he will not beg, but he will watch and drool ferociously! We think he is like Homer Simpson “hmmmmm toast……”. Nelson loves anything to do with the water; boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, flutter boards, paddle boat, blow up floaties etc. If he can get in it or on it in the water he will. He loves going out on the lake. With that said he will also sit in these things on the shore with pathetic eyes so you will take him out. Nelson has made such a huge difference in our lives. He has completed our family. We are thankful each day for him and love him to bits. He is our “peanut” and we could not imagine life without him. His brother adores him too and has such a better life with Nelson in it. Thank you again and again for our baby

 

LEXIE: AKA MINNOW

I ADOPTED OR SHOULD I SAY LEXIE ADOPTED ME IN LATE JUNE 2009

SHE WAS SO FEARFUL OF PEOPLE AND THE DAY I MET HER I FELT SO SORRY FOR HER BUT AT THE SAME TIME COMPELLED TO MAKE HER FEEL SAFE AGAIN WITH SOMEONE.

LESS THEN A WEEK LATER, I PICKED HER UP AT HER FOSTER HOME, THEY LOVED HER TOO, SHE WAS SO TIMID I HAD TO PICK HER UP TO PUT HER IN THE CAR. SHE LITERALLY VIBRATED AND SHOOK SO BAD.

OVER TIME SHE HAS LOST SOME OF HER TIMIDNESS BUT STILL STAYS AWAY FROM STRANGERS, MAINLY MEN, SO I AM FIGURING HER PROBLEMS CAME FROM A MAN.

SHE IS VERY AFRAID OF BAGS SO IT MAKES IT INTERESTING TO GO SHOPPING AS SHE DOESN’T WANT TO STAY HOME ALONE EITHER.

SHE CORNERS HERSELF IN THE CAR AS FAR FROM THE BAGS AS POSSIBLE.

I TOOK HER TO ALGONQUIN PARK THIS SUMMER, I CALLED IT HER VACATION AS SHE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE CAMPING EXPERIENCE AND THE SWIMMING TO GO WITH IT.

SHE REALLY CAME OUT OF HER SHELL WHEN SHE SPENT A WEEKEND WITH A FRIEND OF MINE, HIS TWO DOGS FOUND A LIGHT IN LEXIE AND SHE WAS SO MUCH MORE FUN AFTER HER WEEKEND THERE.

SHE HAS BECOME BIRCHWOOD TERRACES MASCOT AS SHE COMES TO WORK WITH ME EVERYDAY, SHE HAS FAVOURITE RESIDENTS, AS THEY HAVE HER TREATS, SHE KNOWS WHICH SIDE HER BREAD IS BUTTERED ON. SHE WILL TRY TO GET TO KNOW NEWER PEOPLE BUT IT HAS TO BE HER IDEA, IF THEY APPROACH HER TO FAST SHE HIDES BEHIND ME, BUT SHE LOVES ATTENTION AND TO BE PETTED, SHES AN ATTENTION MONGER ON HER TERMS.

SHE IS TREATED LIKE A PRINCESS AS SHE HAS A FANCY CUSHION AT WORK AS WELL AS AT HOME, SHE CUDDLES UP BESIDE ME IN BED, LET ME REPHRASE THAT, SHE HOGS THE BED AND GIVES ME A LITTLE TO GET MY SLEEP IN.

THE CAR IS SET UP THAT SHE HAS THE WHOLE BACK WITH THE SEATS DOWN. SHE LIKES CAR RIDES BUT HASN’T FULLY LEARNED TO RELAX IN THE CAR. IN TIME I AM HOPING TO SEE MORE CONFIDENCE IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES. SHE LOVES THE OUTDOORS AND RUNNING LIKE THE WIND. SHE IS HARDLY EVER LEASHED AS SHE NEVER STRAYS FAR FROM MY SIDE AND GETS QUITE INSULTED WHEN A LEASH GOES ON. HOWEVER WHEN WE GO FOR WALKS HER LEASH IS ON AND SHE IS GREAT TO WALK WITH. I HAVE TAKEN HER TO PUBLIC EVENTS AND SHE FAIRS PRETTY WELL WITH THE EXCEPTION IF SOMEONE BUMPS INTO HER HIND QUARTERS, THEN I BECOME TOTALLY ENTWINED IN HER LEASH AS SHE TRIES TO GET AWAY FROM THE PERSON WHO ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED HER. SHE HATES HAVING HER PICTURE TAKEN, TAKE A CAMERA OUT AND YOU GET THE DEJECTED POSE IMMEDIATELY.

SHE HAS  BROUGHT JOY AND COMPANIONSHIP IN MY LIFE AS I AM NEW TO KENORA, AND NOT KNOWING A LOT OF PEOPLE. SHE HAS COME A LONG WAY AND IM PROUD OF EACH STEP SHE TAKES TO TRUSTING PEOPLE. SHE IS VERY QUIET, HARDLY EVER BARKS, LOVES TO “TALK” TO YOU WHEN YOUR NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR HER LIKING AND THE RESIDENTS LOVE TO HEAR HER WHEN SHE DOES THIS. MY NEIGHBOURS HARDLY BELIEVE I HAVE A DOG LIVING WITH ME.

WITH BRINGING HER TO WORK IT HAS ENCOURAGED FAMILIES MORE TO BRING THEIR PETS IN TO THEIR LOVED ONES, I THINK ITS GREAT!!!!.

THANK YOU “IT’S A DOGS LIFE”, FOR THE GIFT I HAVE RECEIVED IN LEXIE (minnow) AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR THE MISSING SOMETHING IN THEIR LIFE TO CHECK OUT “IT’S A DOGS LIFE”

 

YOURS SINCERELY

 

RHONDA MURRAY

 

Dolly sends us a Christmas letter.

Hello folk who saved me!  You know me as Nanook.  The lady of the house calls me Dolly.  I am a doll.  The man of the house calls me many things!  J

I continue to get my way in this haven—going for good walks each day (on leash).  These folk seem to think I need to be on the leash all the time as I love to walk away with anyone when I’m off.  If I don’t want to walk on the leash, I’ll just sit or lie down & the man has to threw cookies all the way back to the house.  If I can, I just chew through the leash & take off.  I have been all over town with nice people, but somehow the man finds me & picks me up in the van.  That is my favourite part—the ride.

One day I walked the dog catcher to work & she had to call my house.  My man was not happy.  More funny names.  If I get off the leash I love chasing deer & squirrels & will stay out late.  These folk don’t seem to like that either.  Such fun.

If I can,  I love chewing things.  I chewed my way through all my lady’s shoes this summer.  She said that was hundreds of dollars.  What’s a dollar?  Can I chew that?  She has a dog crate that the man will not let her put me in when I’m on my own [which is hardly ever], so the lady said she would put her shoes in the crate instead.  I chewed the plugin cord for the car & the man said he couldn’t believe that I wasn’t shocked!! Am I shocking??

It has been a fun year getting to ride in cars & learning about the boat.  I like the boat ride, but I don’t care much for swimming.  I’ll wade in and get wet only when I want.  I had 2 big dogs stay with me this summer & they were a handful.  Thankfully, they moved.  I think they were just here until they moved from the Prairies to the East Coast.  The girl dog chased me a lot & I usually outran her.  The boy dog was so old he would hop after me [his back end was too weak—he was 13—so he put his to back legs together & hopped].  He could not do that for long.  I am so fast that I usually won!  It was nice of me to share my house though with these 2.

My lady pets me a lot & massages my legs & talks quietly about my need to stay home & stop chewing & stop snapping.  I pretend I’m sleeping.  She does not seem to know that this is a husky thing.  So far these folks have been patient with the husky thing.  Am I trying?

Well, just thought I should update you since my landing in clover in April.  I am wishing you & A Dog’s Life & all furries the best of the season,  Love, Nanook [Dolly

 

nanook card]2

Molly is settling in….

Molly is adjusting very well to her new life here and we love her.  She loves to play and run around with the boys on our large property.  The boys had her playing monkey in the middle with a tennis ball yesterday.  That really tired her out and she caught on to their shinanigans.  It was that and being outside all day clearing brush and sticks.  She’s good at that.  She didn’t like the loud chainsaw though but she put up with it.  Now Molly is officially a farm dog after she rolled in the chicken poo at the neighbours.  Nice fresh poo, yummy.  I think she was feeling a bit green after that.  She is eating well and drinking lots.  We’re not too pleased about her preference to sleeping on furniture though so we’ll have to block off some doorways.  Furby (our cat) and Molly are still getting to know each other and I’m sure after one or two swipes from Furby’s lethal paws Molly will leave him alone. I’ll send some pictures with the next update if you like.

 

ROXY’S RAVE REVIEW

Roxy has settled in very well!  I’ve never had a dog who settled in so quickly.

She’s been able to go for lots of runs when we walk her (several times a day).  She certainly lets us know when she wants something.  She has been eating well, and she sleeps either in the living room in front of our couch, or on the floor beside our bed.

We have a screened-in porch where we sit with our coffee, and she loves it out there as well.  Roxy has been swimming in front of our place, the neighbour’s place and my Dad’s place, so she’s made herself right at home.

It’s fun to have a young dog with energy and a zest for life!

Next time I go to Walmart, I’m getting a new memory card for my camera, and will send some pictures to you.

Thanks again for the chance to love this beautiful dog.

bgh